The Constitution of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity was adopted on 27 March 1976 by resolution 163 (XXXII)2 of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific at its thirty-second session, which took place at Bangkok, Thailand, from 24 March 1976 to 2 April 1976. The Constitution was open for signature at Bangkok from 1 April 1976 to 31 October 1976 and at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York from 1 November 1976 to 24 February 1979.

In addition, Macau is an associate Member. The deposit of the instrument of accession on 9 February 1993 was accompanied by a declaration made by the Government of Portugal in accordance with article 20 of the Constitution to the effect that:

...The Government of the Portuguese Republic confirms that Macau, as an associate member of ESCAP, is authorized to be a party to the Constitution of the Asia Pacific Telecommunity and to assume the rights and obligations contained therein. ... In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the Portuguese Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Macau signed in Beijing on April 13, 1987, the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau from December 20 1999, while the Government of the Portuguese Republic remains responsible for the external relations of Macau until December 19, 1999.

Also, on 9 February 1993, and in relation to the said deposit, the Secretary-General received from the Government of the Republic of China, the following communication:

In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macau signed in Beijing on 13 April 1987, the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau as of 20 December 1999. Macau, as a part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, will thereupon become a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China and its foreign affairs will be the responsibility of the People's Republic of China.

The People's Republic of China is one of the founding members of the Asia Pacific Telecommunity.

The Government of the People's Republic of China hereby declares that as of 20 December 1999, the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China may continue to stay in the Asia Pacific Telecommunity as an associate member in the name o "Macau, China" as it still meets the essential requirements for such a membership."

See also note 3 under “China” and note 1 under “Portugal” regarding Macao in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.

Brunei Darussalam had been admitted as an associate Member from 2 March 1981. Upon becoming an associate Member, it had declared that it wished to be regarded as having been an associate member of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity with effect from 1 January 1980, the date upon which it became a financial contributor.